Improvement in steam-traps



lIJNITED STATES PATENTA ()EEIGEo `JAMES w. HODeEs,oF NEW YoniLN. Y., AssIeNon or ONE-THIRD` INTEREST TO JOHN W. HARWAY, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-TRAPS.

Specification formngrp'art of Letters Patent No'. 153,825, dated August 4, 1874 application filed f i February 26, 1874.

To all whom "it may concern:

Beitknown that I, JAMES WrLsoN HoneEs,

of the city, county, and State of New York, nhave invented an Improved Steam-Trap, o f` which the following is a specification:

This .invention relates to a form of' steamtrapwhich is not in common or general public hse, the same consisting, essentially, of a box or chest with inlet and outlet passages, a hori- 'zontalcock communicating with the latter, and in a supplemental port or series of ports in the discharge-cock for the escape of water outside `inlet and external supplemental outlet-ports,

so that the water of condensation shall have a very free discharge, while the escape of steam shall be precluded. A' Ihe invention consists, thirdly, in a main inlet pipe or channel extending to the rear end of the box or chest, so that the entering water shall not interfere with the rise of the oat.

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of a steam-trap in operation, illustrating this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on the line 2 2, Fig: l. The line l 1, Fig. 2, indicates the plane of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, B represents 'a steam and water tight box or chest, which maybe made of cast-iron or other suitable material, and of any preferred form. c represents a removable cap, by which access may be had to theinterior 5 n, an inlet-neck, and n2 an outlet-neck. C represents a horizontal cock applied to the outlet-orifice within the chest B; and F represents an open float having a hollow lever-arm, L, attached to the moving member ofthe cock C, so that the latter shall form a pivot for the oat, and that communication with the float shall be opened through the lever in the depressed position of the lloat, as in the illustration. O2 represents a cock applied to the upper part of the chest B to provide for the escape of air. A represents the main chamber of the trap; I, the main inlet; O, the main outlet, and A2 the chamber within the float F. t' represents an inlet-tube applied to the float F to form its opening, and arranged to project above the level of the topof the float when the latter is in depressed condition. 'z representsa sieve applied to the mouthof this tube to prevent the passage of any obstruction which may have obtained entrance to the main chamber. o represents a pairof outlet-ports in the cock C to open communication between the chamber A2 in the oat F and the main outlet O. o2 represents -a pair of supplemental outlet-ports, which simultaneously open direct communication between the main chamber A and the outlet. G3 represents a supplemental discharge-cock applied to the bottom of the chest B.

The body and top of the `float F, with the tube i thereon, are,preferably, formed in one piece, `from copper or other suitable sheet metal, by a swaging process, and in this case the sieve z is formed by minute perforations. The float may be cylindrical or of other approved form. The inlet-tube is, preferably', arranged so as not to render necessary any additional height of chest for its accommodation. In a trap of ordinary proportions this maybe accomplished, as in the illustration, by arranging a vertical tube'atfthe inner edge of 'the float.

The 'float maybe arrested and supported by an'adjustable post, S, consisting of a'vertical screw in a hollow stud, as in the illustration; or the cock may be so adjusted that the float shall rest on the bottom of the chamber.

The cock G in the illustration is composed of a xed conical plug and an oscillating sleeve with a nut and washer for securing the latter from displacement; but this particular construction is not essential.

The ports are necessarily formed in the shape of narrow longitudinal slits, as illustrated at c, or series of small holes, as illustrated :at c2; but either form may be adopted to the exclusion of the other. The external outlet-ports o2 are surmounted by a tube, i2, similar to the tube i, so that the water shall not escape therethrough or fall in the chamber A during the operation below a given line. The ports may be formed in any preferred part of the cock.

The inlet I is formed by a cored channel or pipe extending to the rear end of the chamber over the cock C.

The cocks C2 C3 and other details may be of any preferred form and construction.

In setting up the apparatus the steam-pipe is coupled to the inlet-neck n, and a dischargepipe may be coupled to the outlet-neck a2, and the cock G3 may be made to communicate with the discharge-pipe.

When the chamber A is empty the float F lies in the bottom of the chamber, and the outlet-ports o o2 in the cock C are open, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The water of condensation enters the trap through the inlet I, and when it reaches a given level the float begins to rise, and in so doing closes the outlet-ports. The oat continues to rise with the water in the chamber A until it is arrested at the top of the chamber, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. The cock C2 may now or previously be opened for the escape of air, and at intervals during the use of the apparatus it may be advisable to free the chamber A from air -by this means. When the water reaches the top of the chamber A it flows into the float through the tube i, and when a sufficient quantity has entered the float-chamber A2 the ioat sinks to the bottom and reopens the cock G. The water now flows from the chamber A through the tube i, float-chamber A2, tubular lever L, ports Vo, and outlet O, and more directly through the tube i2, supplemental ports o2, and outlet O. When the water in the chamber falls below the mouth of the tube i the water continues-to flow from the float-chamber A2 until it reaches a certain level, illustrated in Fig. l. The oat then rises again and closes the outlet-ports, and the operation, as above described, is repeated, and so on indefinitely.

Owing to the provision of the tube i, the float will rise while the water is still above it. Thus, with a comparatively small iloat, the required movement of the valve can be accomplished, the float operating also with increased power. Consequently a smaller float and a smaller trap may be employed for a given quantity of work. The trap is thus rendered, relatively,

' more durable, cheaper, and more convenient for employment.

The supplemental outlet-ports o2 give automatic escape to the water in the event of any obstruction to the inclosed ports, besides increasing the area of opening incident to a given fall of the float, and vice versa.

The extended inlet prevents the entering water from interfering with the rise of the float, as before set forth.

By the cock G3 the water may be drawn off vto prevent freezing or to clean the trap, or temporary escape may thus be provided in the event of the other ports becoming obstructed. "I am aware that an open iloat forming the means and channel of vdischarge in a steamtrap is shown and described in the expired patent of Guild and Brown, dated May20, 1851. This feature of the present device is not, therefore, broadly claimed as novel4 in this invention.

The following is claimed as new, namely:

1. The combination of the open float F,-having the inlet-tube and the cock C, having the ports o and supplemental external ports 02, substantially as specified. y

2. In combination with the-open oat F, the outlet-cock C, located at or near the bottom of the water-chamber A, and constructed with the ports o communicating with theioat, and y with the supplemental outlet-ports 02 communicatin g directly with the chamber A, subs tantially as specified. 5

. 3. In combination with Vthe open float F and outlet-cock C, arranged within the chamber A in the manner described, the inlet tube 0r channel I, extended to the rear or outletl end of the chamber, so as not to interfere with the rise of the float, as specified.

4. In combination with the open fioat Fout let-cock C, and main and supplemental outletports o o2 in the latter, the tube 2, surmounting the supplemental outlet-port, as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES WILSON HODG'ES.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. ANDREWS, HORACE ANDREWS. 

